Bloomington East
Bloomington East Park includes Cedar Ridge, Hickory/Walnut, and Oak Campgrounds, Ash and Elm Group Camps, and Bloomington Beach Picnic Shelters. The park is located just west of Clinton Lake, between the Rock Creek and Wakarusa River arms of the lake, and offers several different recreational options. Within Bloomington East Park, visitors have the opportunity to reserve picnic shelters and campsites, both for group camping and individual family camping.
More like this: electric hookups in Kansas · full hookups in Kansas · reservable in Kansas · big rigs in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas · group sites in Kansas
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 184 |
| Standard, no hookups | 119 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| Host/management | 18 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
305 sites in 6 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Water / sewer | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASH GROUP | ASH GROUP CAMPGROUND | Group | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No | 75 / 26 | Yes | ||||
| 003 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 004 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 005 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Paved | Partial | 30 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 008 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 009 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 010 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 011 | CEDAR RIDGE CAMPGROUND | Electric | Pull-through | 60 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | Yes / – | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 019, 023, 070, 079 and 13 more are listed accessible |
The Bloomington Beach Day Use area has four picnic shelters. This spacious day use picnic area is located adjacent to Bloomington Beach providing an ideal location for large group or family gatherings. The picnic shelters are reservable, for a fee, or free to use on a first-come, first-serve basis, if not already reserved, and have electrical outlets. There are several single picnic tables for use by smaller groups. Cedar Ridge and Hickory Walnut Campgrounds are the two main campgrounds, comprised of individual family sites. Many of these campsites have electrical or electrical and water hookups. Somewhat removed from the larger Hickory Walnut Campground, are Oak Campground, Elm Group Camp and Ash Group Camp. Oak Campground is a loop of Hickory Walnut Campground, with individual family campsites. Elm Group Camp and Ash Group Camp are larger, grassy areas, available for reservation, by larger groups, accommodating up to 75 people. Elm and Ash Group Camps are intended for tent camping groups, but can handle a limited number of small trailers, such as tent campers, as long as they remain on the gravel circle drive. There is no electricity provided in Elm or Ash Group Camps.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Lawrence, Kansas, take 6th Street west for 4 miles. Take a left onto County Road 442 and continue 5 miles to Stull, Kansas. Make a left turn onto County Road 1023 and continue about 6 miles to County Road 6, make a left turn, and go 4 miles through the town of Clinton. Follow directional signs to the park.
| Nearest town | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 38.9079° N, 95.3753° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Great Blue Heron ↗ | 8.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Central RV ↗ | 21.1 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bloomington Park Campground Review – Clinton Lake, Lawrence, Kansas
Worth a stop
The Visitor Center, located on the northwest side of the dam, has several informative displays covering topics such as the history of the area, reasons for the dam and the wildlife in the area. The Clinton Lake Museum, located within Bloomington East Park, has several informative displays covering topics like the history of the region and the Underground Railroad. The cities of Lawrence and Topeka are within a 30 minute drive.
- 0.4 miBloomington East Day Use ↗Day use
- 1.3 miBloomington West, Boat Ramp 4 ↗Boat launch
- 15 miLake Perry Yacht & Marina ↗Boat launch
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Congress authorized Clinton Lake in 1962, and the finished reservoir was filled in 1980. While the Dam and Reservoir were originally built for flood control, the area has now become a recreational oasis for millions of visitors to enjoy the beautiful green Kansas backdrop. Clinton Lake's beautiful setting of steep bluffs, wooded shoreline and clean water is unequaled among Kansas lakes. Shoreline development has been limited in an effort to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible. Clinton Lake spans 8 miles up the Wakarusa Valley and covers 7,000 surface acres. If the lake ever approaches the top of its flood pool, an additional 5,800 acres will be covered, extending the area to 13 miles along the valley floor.
Recreation
Bloomington Beach has a large sandy beach for swimming. Bloomington Beach requires a day use fee, for non-campers, between May 1 and September 30. Bloomington East offers 4 sets of boat ramps with courtesy docks. Launching a Boat requires a day use fee, for non-campers, between April 1 and November 30. Bloomington East offers over 300 campsites ranging from primitive to full hook-up to group camps 4 group shelters and dozens of picnic tables throughout the park make Bloomington East the perfect spot for vistitors just wanting to visit or the day. There are horseshoe pits, sand volleyball courts and playgrounds located several places in Bloomington East Park, making it the perfect spot for families. A full 18-hole professional disc golf course is also available free to all visitors (sets of disc can be borrowed from the camp host stations). Clinton Lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming and countless other water sports, making it the main attraction in Bloomington East Park.
Guidebooks for Kansas and camping across the country
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Bloomington East?
Sites at Bloomington East are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bloomington East?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bloomington East have?
323 sites, including 184 standard sites with power, 119 standard sites without power, and 2 group sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bloomington East?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Bloomington East have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bloomington East?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bloomington East. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bloomington East?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Bloomington East?
Sites 019, 023, 070, and 079 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 17 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Bloomington East?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Bloomington East?
Bloomington Beach has a large sandy beach for swimming. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bloomington East?
Lawrence, Kansas. The Visitor Center, located on the northwest side of the dam, has several informative displays covering topics such as the history of the area, reasons for the dam and the wildlife in the area.
Source: Getting there
What if Bloomington East is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Rockhaven Park Campground And Equestrian Area (1.1 mi), Bloomington West (1.7 mi), and Rock Creek (15.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby